They’ve made their mark in areas as diverse as interior design, children’s fashion, art and cooking. But they still find time for family. We asked four influential mums what they love most about Christmas.

Catherine McCord
The brains behind Weelicious, the online kids’ recipe site devoted to fresh, wholesome and fun eating for the entire family.

1. Where will you be spending the holidays?
We’ll be spending Christmas in Los Angeles at home!
2. What’s at the top of your child’s Christmas list?
Wooden Blocks
3. What’s on yours?
I really want this purse or this camera
4. When travelling with kids, the first thing I pack is …
… ZIngo! to keep everyone busy on the plane.
5. Name your favourite holiday tradition.
Our favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies as a family on Christmas eve.
6. Christmas isn’t Christmas without …
… decorating the tree together and singing holiday songs. Silly, but true!

Cortney Novogratz
One half of brilliant design company Sixx Design with husband Robert, now also part of an inspiring TV show, 9 by Design.

1. Where will you be spending the holidays?
We always spend the Christmas holidays at our home in The Berkshires, where it’s cozy, our family can come to visit, we can enjoy the snow, and we can ski!
2. What’s at the top of your child’s Christmas list?
Our son Breaker really wants a drum set, and if he is good, Santa might be bringing them!
3. What’s on yours?
I would love to see a great Christmas show with the whole family!
4. When travelling with kids, the first thing I pack is …
Disinfectant wipes! When you have seven kids that is really important! Secondly, snacks. We love Goldfish Crackers.
5. Name your favourite holiday tradition.
We always have chocolate fondue after we get home from mass on Christmas Eve.
6. Christmas isn’t Christmas without …
… without the whole family.

Karen Kimmel
Los Angeles-based installation artist and designer and creator of Kimmel Kids, an innovative line of educational tools and toys.

1. Where will you be spending the holidays?
Home. We have tried traveling during the holiday and honestly, to quote Dorothy (from The Wizard of Oz) “There is no place like home.” Home cooked food, family, friends … it is pure magic.
2. What’s at the top of your child’s Christmas list?
Hmmm, for Ace anything sports related. For Jersey a puppy, an English Bulldog to be exact (kind of a tall order). Any toys that inspire creativity and family fun are huge favorites. Here’s a couple I adore: PlayShapes by Millergoodman – they are just insanely cute and original; Hand Tattoos from Talking Hands – simple and fun.

This year as a family, we are focusing on how we give back. Through our school who is partnering with Hollywood Health Partnership, we will be helping the homeless by creating hygiene kits that include the basic needs for self care. The Hollywood School House has integrated this program a few years in a row and it really helps us realize how basic things like soap and shampoo are not so basic if you are homeless.

We also like to get gifts from Creative Growth in Oakland and the First Street Gallery in Claremont. Both centers are in California and have extensive art programs for artists with mental and physical disabilities. My personal favorite this year is the artwork of Helen Rae who takes inspiration from contemporary fashion. What an amazing gift!
3. What’s on yours?
Not to be corny, but with all this working, I am coveting some kick back time together as a family and well, since you asked, a sewing machine and some new Copic Markers would sure make me smile.
4. When travelling with kids, the first thing I pack is …
For my son, a change of clothes and anything sports focused. He never stops spilling stuff and is always raring to go. For Jersey, art supplies. She just learned to knit, and it blows my mind watching her make her own hand warmers! Also Kimmel Kids just made a Mini Stencil Kit and Composition Books with reusable covers. Love the idea of letting the kids make a journal of their trip. On our last adventure we brought the Fuji Film Instant Camera and let them snap away!
5. Name your favourite holiday tradition.
When I was young my mom used to take me to The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center in New York every year. We also visited the tree at Rockefeller Center and saw the decked-out holiday store window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman’s. My mother passed away many years ago and even though I now live in L.A, this is a tradition I am unwilling to mess with. Every year my daughter and I go to New York for five days in December to soak up the Holiday vibe and spend time together. We have added a bit to the tradition with some skating at Wollman Ring, a horse and buggy ride in Central Park and trips to the MoMA. An east coast snow storm is bonus points!

The other family tradition that has been gaining some momentum over the last few years, is handmade gifts. For the last couple of years our dear friend and talented photographer, Erik Ian, has been giving our tight knit group of friends family portraits of their families and children. So far not a year goes by where I don’t get teary eyed opening that gift. I also have been enjoying making gifts for all the kids and adults, it just feels so darn good. A couple of years back, I made trivets, then ornaments, last year stencil art kits, succulent gardens, and this year, stockings, yeah!

Cookie making is another big family tradition. My mom passed down a box of cookie recipes so full that the lid doesn’t shut. She really took Christmas baking to the next level. She started her baking right after Thanksgiving and worked non-stop until Christmas. It was so major, that we had a room in our house dubbed the “cookie room,” which was filled with fifty kinds of cookies and treats for all to eat, a kids dream come true!
6. Christmas isn’t Christmas without …
… people you love.

Florence Rolando
Kids design blogger extraordinaire (Pirouette) and co-founder of the gone but not forgotten Bubble – The Kids Trade Show New York.

1. Where will you be spending the holidays?
We usually like to spend Christmas home, but the days are so short in the UK during winter (as we discovered last year, our first winter in the country); we need to make light and sun supplies! We’ll spend the holidays in Sri Lanka, and we will stop in Dubai on our way.
2. What’s at the top of your child’s Christmas list?
They have asked for Santa to bring a little sister, but I know that he won’t deliver! I am reorienting their choice towards Playmobil, one of their a real obsession. Egyptians are also becoming a passion, so the Pyramid and the Royal Ship of Egypt will make them super happy.
3. What’s on yours?
The Playmobil Egyptian Family, to make sure I am accepted in the children’s fun games.
4. When travelling with kids, the first thing I pack is …
I always pack a good selection of crayons, drawing pads, as well as copies of Anorak Magazine. In the train, in the plane, at restaurants, they are constantly with a crayon in hand, and we as parents, have peace.
5. Name your favourite holiday tradition.
Decorating the X-mas table with many many candles and also name tags that we have spent hours decorating.
6. Christmas isn’t Christmas without …
… snow! I am a mountain girl. As there’s no snow in Sri Lanka, we’ll make a stop in Dubai to visit Ski Dubai, a crazy indoor ski complex.